A stalwart of the Weekend of Weird sub-Fringe season at The SpiegelGardens, Cabaret Impedimentia packs an enjoyably disruptive punch. The premise is simple: five professional cabaret acts do their best to perform short taster sets of their shows, with each act acquiring an impediment to completing this task. The Impediments are cumulative and the obstacles. grow. Add to that nods to host John-Luke Roberts’ whimsical and existential comedic talents. Essentially it’s where structure meets mayhem and something totally unique and fun is cooked up each time.
The high calibre and reputations of both acts and impediments is a testament to Cabaret Impedimentia’s reputation as immense fun. Opening proceedings is cabaret musician and writer Laila Woozeer, playing gamely alongside her ‘Victorian ghost child’ impediment, darting around the stage and into the audience like a mischievous piranha, played by one half of award-winning comedy sketch act Siblings. Next up is acclaimed magician Danny Lee Grew, engaging in enjoyable card tricks and rope-cutting despite stoic disruption from Les Mis’ Inspector Javert aka BAFTA-winning actor and physical comedian Luke Rollason who literally handcuffs himself to the magic man, dragging him into the next act – poetry-reading Gareth Gwynn – as a bonus impediment.
Essentially, this is the chance to see top notch creative performers at riotous play, and it’s an anarchic delight. Other treats include juggling clown Darryl J Carrington ad libbing a finale to include juggling the disruptive ghost child; Terry Wogan (aka Benjamin Alborough) singing a song and completely derailing clown Enrico Touché’s act while Javert declares “I killed the magic man!”; and an erratic gong sound effect signalling that the designated performer must stop and contemplate their own death.
The improvised nature of the impediments and their interactions with the show means some bits that are funnier than others, but the clear instruction is to try anything and see what sticks – and a lot of it does. It’s fascinating, engaging, delightful, and with a dangerous undercurrent of actual disruption shot through the centre. More of this, please.
WundaBarn at The SpiegelGardens, 22 May 2026, 9.30m, £14/12
